Murder, With Amanda Flower

I'm so happy to welcome Amanda Flower back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Writing as Isabella Alan, she had her fourth Amish Quilt Shop mystery, Murder, Plainly Read, published October 6th.

The Editors

Kathy: You have two demanding editors in Cheeps and Tummy. How do they help keep you on track? Are they really such harsh taskmasters?

AF: Cheeps and Tummy are the best. They are my chief encouragers and always keep me on task. They might act tough when it comes to edits, but they are both marshmallows at heart. It's hard to imagine writing a novel without them at my side.


Kathy: If you were able to add a new family member, would you be more likely to add Oliver or Petunia?

AF: Oh wow, this is a tough question. I have always wanted and French bulldog and a goat. It's true! When I was in college, I thought I would grow up to have a hobby farm with a bunch of animals. I love all animals, but the farm never happened since live in the city. Because of where I live, I would chose Oliver, partly motivated by wanting to dress him in sweaters in the winter like Angie does.


Kathy: In Murder, Plainly Read Angie works with librarian Austina Shaker. As a librarian yourself, did you incorporate some of your own experiences into Austina's life?

AF: I definitely did. It was a lot of fun to include a library as the backdrop for this book. I think my library staff characters act is true to what I see on the job, and I have some fun scenes in there that past and present coworkers might recognize.


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

AF: Two years ago, the director the Holmes County District Public Library heard me speak at a library conference about trends in Amish fiction, and he invited me to visit their library to see how they serve the Amish community. During the visit, I got to do a ride along in the library's bookmobile that visit Amish districts as an undercover librarian. It was awesome. I knew it would be a future plot for a book.


Kathy: I always enjoy the covers. Do you have any input in their design?

AF: I get the best covers. My editor (the human one), my agent, and I have discussed this many times how I luck out in the cover department every single time. I don't have much input though. Sometimes my editor will ask for an idea, but it's not every time. For the next book in the series, Murder, Handcrafted, I asked for Dodger, Angie's cat, be added to the cover, and I'm very happy to say they did it. What's even better he's the spitting image of my Cheeps.


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Angie Braddock?

AF: I do have many plans for Angie, Mitchell, and the entire gang living in Rolling Brook. In my head, I know where Angie will be at the end of the series, but I can't share that! Instead, I will say in Murder, Handcrafted (book 5) Angie is feeling increasing pressure from her mother to produce grandchildren.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

AF: In October, in addition to Murder, Plainly Read, Andi Unstoppable, my third children's mystery, will be released. Later in the month, Amish Christmas at North Star comes out. It is a five author novella collection. I wrote a standalone novella for it called "Mourning Star."

In 2016, I have three mysteries coming in Spring: Crime and Poetry (Magical Bookshop #1), The Final Tap ( Living History Mystery #2), and Murder, Handcrafted (Amish Quilt Shop #5).

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USA Today Bestselling Author Isabella Alan is the pseudonym for Amanda Flower. Amanda Flower, a three time Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland.

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A Stitch to Die For - Book Blast

A Stitch to Die For by Lois Winston

BOOK BLAST

A Stitch to Die For (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery) (Volume 5) 5th in Series Cozy Mystery • Paperback: 240 pages • Publisher: Lois Winston (July 7, 2015) • ISBN-13: 978-1940795300

Synopsis:

Ever since her husband died and left her in debt equal to the gross national product of Uzbekistan, magazine crafts editor and reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack has stumbled across one dead body after another—but always in work-related settings. When a killer targets the elderly nasty neighbor who lives across the street from her, murder strikes too close to home. Couple that with a series of unsettling events days before Halloween, and Anastasia begins to wonder if someone is sending her a deadly message.

 

About The Author –

USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Visit Lois/Emma at www.loiswinston.com and Anastasia at the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog, www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com. Follow everyone on Tsu at www.tsu.co/loiswinston, on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/anasleuth, and onTwitter at https://twitter.com/Anasleuth. Sign up for her newsletter at https://www.MyAuthorBiz.com/ENewsletter.php?acct=LW2467152513   Author Links Website: http://www.loiswinston.com Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: http://www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/anasleuth Tsu: www.tsu.co/loiswinston Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/722763.Lois_Winston Purchase Links Amazon Nook Kobo iTunes Google Play

Currently Reading. . .

I just started reading Dickens of a Murder by Joyce and Jim Lavene. This book is the first in a new series for the Lavenes, the Canterville Book Shop Mystery series. If you're a regular reader of this blog, or are a follower of cozy mysteries, you are aware of the untimely death of Joyce Lavene last week. I'm pleased to bring Joyce back to my world by reading her (and Jim's) new book.

The story starts in mid November as we meet Simon Canterville and Lisa Wellman, a unique duo who, while knowing each other for about a year, just became partners in a new venture-a book store. Looking at their Victorian shop they see a man and ponder what he's doing on their roof. While still attempting to figure out the truth of the matter the police arrive on the scene, but it's not just any patrol office, it's the Deputy Chief of Police, who happens to be Lisa's ex-husband. Unfortunately, the man on the roof is not the cable man, he's a dead man!

Happy Homicides - Guest Post

I'd like to welcome Annie Adams, one of the author's featured in Happy Homicides.


“Where do you get your ideas?” It’s a commonly asked question by my readers and friends. And it’s a good question, but one without a specific answer. Sometimes the idea for a story can start with a snippet of a sentence overheard while shopping, or a news story on the radio or TV. Sometimes I think of a place I’d like to write about or an event like a wedding, and then I begin to think of who would be at that place or event and why. That leads to thinking about who the characters in a story are going to be.

The great thing about having a series, is that I know I have a cast of characters, each of which I’ve known for a while now. That doesn’t mean I don’t learn new things about them, in fact it happens all the time. And when you place the members of that cast in a new setting or place, new and surprising things are bound to happen.

Another frequent question I’ll get from people that I know is something like, “Isn’t Danny so and so?” or “Quincy is you, right?” For those who haven’t read my books, Quincy (short for Quinella, don’t tell her I told you) is my main character. Danny is her best flower friend. Many times people who know me or the people in my life, will assume I based my characters on people that I know. It would be very convenient to have walking embodiments of all the characters in my books. I could just write down everything they say and do without having to come up with anything new. But that wouldn’t be very fun. It isn’t to say that I don’t take pieces of “characters” I’ve known in my life, or that I’ve encountered in any situation and use those pieces along with others to create a character in a book. It’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Some of those pieces come from something Aunt Thelma used to say, or something Cousin Brad used to do, or the way Coach Jones used to talk to us at halftime.

They say write what you know, and to some extent, that’s what I’ve tried to do. I wrote the flower shop mystery series, and guess what? I own and manage a full-service flower shop. While the setting is something I know, if I wrote about the actually daily occurrences, it might make for a boring book. A pretty picture book, maybe, but not very interesting fiction.

The flower business is great for getting a peek into a variety of emotional experiences for customers. On a daily basis, we are witness to the highest and the lowest points in a person’s lifetime. I’m honored to be part of a profession where I play a small part in those moments. Those emotional moments can and do give me ideas for stories too.

So the answer to the big question is: everywhere. I get my ideas from everywhere. So be careful, someday you, or more likely a piece of you my just end up in one of my books!

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Annie Adams is the author of The Flower Shop Mystery series, and is a contributor the Happy Homicides anthology. She lives with her husband, two giant dogs, and two too giant cats in Northern Utah at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains. When not writing she can be found arranging flowers or delivering them in her own Zombie Delivery Van. She's a member of Romance Writers of America, the Utah chapter of RWA (URWA) and the Kiss of Death chapter of RWA (KOD).

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Synopsis:

A holiday bonanza! A collection of traditional mysteries to celebrate the holidays, written by by thirteen bestselling and award-winning authors. Heartwarming, brain puzzling, craft-centered, and character driven reads that’ll keep you entertained for hours. Nearly 800 pages of reading material, plus a special Recipe and Craft Bonus.

Included are:

Kiki Lowenstein and the Rowan Branch – (Joanna Campbell Slan) When Horace Goldfader is accused of murder, Kiki learns how difficult it can be to maintain peace on earth—and to keep her deathbed promise to her late friend, Dodie.

Cara Mia Delgatto and the Misdirected Gifts  — (Joanna Campbell Slan) Two waylaid items cause Cara to take a break from her booming retail business and follow her heart. Can a sprinkling of holiday magic create a “happily ever after” ending for all involved?

The Christmas Dog — (Joyce and Jim Lavene) A woman running from her deadly past finds hope, and a dog, at Christmas.

and more.

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If you'd like a chance to win an e-copy of Happy Homicides simply leave a comment on this post sharing why you like to read holiday themed mysteries. Leave your comment no later than Wednesday, October 28 2015 at 11:59pm EDT along with an e-mail address so that I can contact you, should yours be the lucky comment. Please participate in the rafflecopter as well!

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Spotlight - Tea Time with the Cozy Chicks

I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book published earlier this month, Tea Time with the Cozy Chicks. The book is not a mystery novel, but rather a cookbook combined with articles about tea and tea parties. The book is a combined effort of the Cozy Chicks: Ellery Adams, Lorraine Bartlett, Duffy Brown, Kate Collins, Mary Kennedy, Mary Jane Maffini, Maggie Sefton, and Leann Sweeney

From the back cover:

The Cozy Chicks realized that tea was such a perfect complement to cozy mysteries that we decided to write a book about it. Not only does Tea Time with the Cozy Chicks have delicious recipes, but it also includes themed tea menus, fascinating articles, fun facts, curious quotes, and helpful hints on how to host the most memorable tea parties ever! And for an extra treat, a few of us have included excerpts of our work as well! Read, cook, drink tea, savor, and most of all enjoy!

A Special Halloween Event

Today I invite you to join me on Facebook for a Halloween Event. It is my day to host Kathi Daley Books Halloween Spooktacular. I'll be starting the event at Noon EDT and will go until 8pm. There will be fun and games, stories and giveaways. My theme is Halloween Memories, so come share some of yours. I'll also have many special guests.

Here's the schedule: All times Eastern.

Noon. This will be my welcoming hour. There may be surprise guests.
1pm Terrie Moran
2pm Krista Davis
3pm Cynthia Lott
4pm Daryl Wood Gerber
5pm Me again with possibly more guests
6pm Barbara Jean Coast
7pm Linda O. Johnston.
8pm That's a wrap.

Visiting authors who will stop by include Victoria Hamilton, Mary Anne Edwards, Lissa Kogut Redman, J.A. Lang, and perhaps a few more! They may stop by at any point in the day.
Authors contributing prizes, but unable to attend include Marella Sands and Roberta Isleib.

I hope to "see" you there at the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/877016315748795/

Spotlight & Giveaway - Pane and Suffering

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a new series. Pane and Suffering is the first book in the Webb's Glass Shop Mystery series and was released September 29th.

Synopsis:

To solve her father’s murder and save the family-owned glass shop, Savannah Webb must shatter a killer’s carefully constructed façade. . .

After Savannah’s father dies unexpectedly of a heart attack, she drops everything to return home to St. Petersburg, Florida, to settle his affairs–including the fate of the beloved, family-owned glass shop. Savannah intends to hand over ownership to her father’s trusted assistant and fellow glass expert, Hugh Trevor, but soon discovers the master craftsman also dead of an apparent heart attack.

As if the coincidence of the two deaths wasn’t suspicious enough, Savannah discovers a note her father left for her in his shop, warning her that she is in danger. With the local police unconvinced, it’s up to Savannah to piece together the encoded clues left behind by her father. And when her father’s apprentice is accused of the murders, Savannah is more desperate than ever to crack the case before the killer seizes a window of opportunity to cut her out of the picture. . .

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